University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota Quick Facts

Program Description

The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy offers its PharmD program on two campuses – Duluth and the Twin Cities. Both campuses offer a small college feel, yet provide all the opportunities of a large university. Learn more about each campus at http://z.umn.edu/campus.

All classes are taught by faculty who are renowned for their research and innovations in patient-centered care. Throughout the four year program, students work closely with faculty. The student to faculty ratio is 6:1.

Our students learn by doing. Experiential education begins in the first year of the PharmD program. Students learn in diverse patient care settings, typically one-on-one with a preceptor. The College of Pharmacy is part of the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center – organized specifically for health education, research, and practice – and provides opportunities for interprofessional study among medicine, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy students and faculty.

The curriculum of the PharmD program is focused on patient-centered care, which involves helping patients identify, resolve, and prevent drug therapy problems. For specific information on the PharmD curriculum, visit http://z.umn.edu/curriculum.

Pharmacy students will find the University of Minnesota offers a supportive student environment. Each student receives individualized attention from the Office of Student Services. Student input is sought on all college-wide decisions and 95 percent of pharmacy students are involved in the college’s student organizations.

Specific information can be found at pharmd.umn.edu.

PharmD Program Highlights

• Public Institution
• Baccalaureate Degree Required
• $500 deposit to hold acceptance
• Conducts interviews of applicants
• Participates in Early Decision Program (EDP)
• Minimum Three (3) Letters of Reference are required
• Does not utilize the Centralized Criminal Background Check (CBC)
• Does not participate in the PharmCAS-facilitated Drug Screening Service

Location

Location: 232 Life Science, 1110 Kirby Drive, Duluth, Minnesota 55812

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Acceptance Rate for University of Minnesota

38%: See other Schools with an acceptance rate under 38%

NAPLEX Pass Rates

First-time NAPLEX pass rates for University of Minnesota graduates, by graduation year, compared with the national average.

Source: NABP, NAPLEX Passing Rates for 2023–2025 Graduates (March 2026). First-attempt pass rates. National average covers all graduates of ACPE-accredited programs.

Tuition

First professional year, 2022–23 academic year (most recent AACP tuition survey); later years may differ — confirm current rates with the school. Branch campus locations: Duluth, MN.

Requirements

GPA and Test Scores

Course Prerequisites Table

Prerequisite Coursework Policies

Online coursework: Accepted for all prerequisite courses. May be satisfied with online courses if taken for credit at a regionally-accredited university, college, or community college.

Pass/fail grades: science courses with labs: Varies; science courses without labs: Varies; non-science courses: Varies.

Completion timing: Prerequisites must be completed by August 1, 2027. Applicants are expected to take no more than two prerequisites in the Summer 2027 semester.

Letter of Recommendation Requirements

Two (2) evaluations (letters of reference) are required.

Recommended But Not Required: Employer, Faculty Advisor, Pharmacist, Professor (Any Subject Area), Professor (Liberal Arts), Professor (Math), Professor (Science), Supervisor, Teaching Assistant

Accepted: Co-Worker, Pre-Health Advisor

Conditionally Accepted: Clergy, Health Care Professional, Politician

Not Accepted: Family Member, Friend

Committee letters: Conditionally accepted (counts as more than one: No)

Choose at least two recommenders (up to four are accepted) from a variety of sources, such as college professors, work supervisors, volunteer supervisors or research supervisors. Only choose recommenders that know you well in an academic or professional capacity. Recommendations from clergy, politicians, or family friends are accepted only if there is a formal employment or volunteer relationship. We do not review personal or character recommendations.

Interview Information

Interview Format: Individual applicants with one interviewer

Online interview option: Yes

Interviews for Fall 2027 admission will be offered both in-person and virtually. Applicants have two one-on-one interviews using a standard situational interview format. Interviews take place during Interview Day events, which also include sessions designed to provide more information about the PharmD program and the University of Minnesota.

More about the interview process

Applying

Deadline

March 1, 2027
Priority application deadline: October 1, 2026
First day of classes: August 23, 2027

General School Information

Program

Dual Degree Program? Yes
Part of an academic health center? Yes
Pharmacy observation hours required? No
Supplemental application requirement? No
Baccalaureate degree preferred for admissions? Preferred
Follows the AACP Cooperative Admissions Guidelines? Yes
Is preference given to in-state applicants vs. out-of-state applicants? No

Pharmacy School Tour Video

International Applicants

Foreign (non-U.S.) citizens considered: Yes
Applications accepted from: US Citizens, US Permanent Residents, US Temporary Residents, Canadian Citizens, Foreign (non-US) Citizens with a Visa, Foreign (non-US) Citizens, Other Non-Citizens (e.g. DACA Students)
Foreign transcript policy: Send a foreign transcript evaluation report (FTER) to PharmCAS
TOEFL required: Yes
The TOEFL is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. Exemptions are granted to applicants meeting certain criteria and must be confirmed with admissions staff before applying. We are unable to waive the TOEFL for applicants who did not realize it was a requirement.

Contact Information

Website: http://pharmd.umn.edu

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